With the best will in the world, we all get the odd Christmas present that is ‘unsuitable’.

Yes we know it’s the thought that counts but there’s always a questionable jumper or a shocking scarf that manages to slip through the net.

The good news is that you have the right to return pretty much anything, whether it’s faulty, the wrong size, not fit for purpose or it’s just horrendous.

Even if the item was bought online, you still get an automatic right to send it back.

In-store

Almost all stores offer a refund policy for goods bought in store, even if there’s nothing wrong with them. They don’t legally have to but the majority do. Each store will have its own rules about how many days you have to return something (and these are often extended over Christmas) and some offer store credit rather than giving you money back, especially if you haven’t got a receipt which you are unlikely to if it’s an unwanted gift.

Of course, for all stores, they need to be unused/unworn for you to qualify for a refund.

John Lewis have some amazing deals on offer this Boxing Day (Image: John Lewis)

Here are the Christmas refund policies for the major high street stores:

Debenhams

Normally Debenhams will offer an exchange or refund within 28 days of purchase.

This Christmas, items bought in store or online can be returned up until January 31.

John Lewis

This department store also has a great returns policy of up to 35 days at most times of the year. If you don’t have the receipt, they’ll give you a gift card for the item’s most recent selling price.

Over Christmas, gifts purchased between October 20 and December 24 can be returned up until January 28.

M&S

M&S has one of the best returns policies as their goodwill gesture allows people to return or exchange any with a receipt for up to 35 days. You should be able to exchange without a receipt.

Over Christmas, they have extended their returns policy so that any item bought online from October 9 can be returned up until January 13.

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Next

Normally Next will refund or exchange goods up to 28 days after purchase, or within 15 days if it was bought in one of their famous sales.

Gifts bought for Christmas can be returned up until January 4. If you’ve got a receipt, you’ll get that amount back, but if you haven’t you’ll probably get money on a gift card equivalent to the item’s most recent sale price.

River Island

They usually have a 28 day returns policy but it’s been extended over the festive period. Customers have until January 14 for a refund whether the item has been bought in store or online. If you haven’t got the receipt you’ll get the last known selling price (which is still way better than having something you hate).

If you bought the item online, you can only get a refund, not an exchange.

New Look

The usual rules are that you can refund or exchange within 28 days of purchase.

Over Christmas however, anything bought between October 31 and Christmas Eve can be returned until January 31, with a receipt. If it was bought in the sale, you can only exchange and not get a refund.

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H Samuels

Any item bought between October 24 and Christmas Eve can be exchanged or refunded between December 29 and January 28. If you’ve got an unwanted gift and it was bought on card, you’ll get a gift card instead so you can treat yourself. Remember if the gift was earrings, they had to have been sealed in the plastic packet in store and you must not have tampered with the seal.

Pandora

Their usual 30 day returns policy has been extended over Christmas so that any item bought between October 30 and Christmas Eve can be refunded or exchanged online or in store up to January 14. Remember earrings cannot be returned at Pandora.

WHSmith

Any gift bought from November 1 can be exchanged or refunded up until January 23.

House of Fraser

The usual policy is that anything bought in store can be returned up to 14 days later and anything online up to 28 days later. This has been extended for Christmas and anything bought between October 23 and December 23 can be returned or exchanged until January 21.

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F&F

Any gifts purchased between November 1 and December 24 will be fully refunded up until January 31, whether bought in store or online.

HMV

They started exchanging unwanted gifts on Boxing Day. Anything bought in November and December can be refunded or exchanged up until January 31. A few items can’t be exchanged though like subscriptions and games credit.

GAME

If the Christmas gift was bought between November 1 and Christmas Eve you can get a full refund up until January 31, if it is unsuitable or just unwanted.